WILTON, Conn. With 2012 around the corner, its time to look back at 2011 - a year fraught with weather disasters and broken teenage hearts.
The major snowstorms of early 2011 dumped more than 60 inches of the white stuff on Wilton, shutting down much of the town each time. Schools were closed for six days, and some residents got annoyed with the constant need to shovel their driveways.
Young girls of Wilton were heartbroken in February when they learned that Justin Bieber was not coming to town for a special screening of his movie, Never Say Never." It was widely believed by young girls that even though Bieber had tweeted he would be in New York, he was coming to Wilton anyway.
Tragedy struck in June when Wilton teen Stephen Forster was presumed dead in Cascade, Idaho, while kayaking the Payette River. Apparently Forster got sucked into a "hydraulic hole and drowned," said Lt. Dan Smith of the Cascade sheriff's office.
Two rashes of car break-ins occurred in Wilton this year. Residents found that their unlocked cars had been broken into and items stolen in April and then again in October. Police caught and charged three individuals for the 11 break-ins in October, though no connection to the April break-ins was made.
The first day of school was pushed back a week because of Hurricane Irene. The storm plunged the town into darkness for over a week. Full power was restored Sept. 6. Flooding left many of the roads impassable.
At Halloween, the unexpected noreaster swept across the town, canceling Halloween festivities and postponing trick-or-treating. While the snow melted in a few days, the effects of the storm long-term electricity loss and the loss of another week of school put the town on edge. The town is still trying to pick up all the fallen tree branches and other debris.
Residents voted to keep the beer sales where they are in the liquor stores. In a close vote, Wiltonites decided not to let supermarkets sell beer. And the candidates, meanwhile, all won their seats in a totally uncontested election.
A special town meeting was held to vote on extending the option to build Wilton Commons, an affordable senior living facility. The vote was almost unanimous, 113-1, to extend the option until June 2012, so that the group can finalize its funding.
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